The government of Nanjing, capital of neighbouring Jiangsu Province, recently asked its officials to report any change in marital status as well as the causes for the change. It also allowed a certain amount of intervention from supervisory departments when the changes are caused by extra-marital affairs. The move is an effort to prevent corruption. Research has found that more than 60 per cent of corruption cases in China are related to extra-marital affairs.

Higher moral standards for civil servants

A comment by Guo Songmin in the Shanghai-based Youth Daily justifies the practice, holding that the officials should have high moral standards.

In the eyes of the general public, officials are the agents of public power, rather than ordinary individuals. How can the public dismiss their fear for possible abuse of power if officials can easily betray their spouses?

In addition, a government made up of officials who have moral blemishes can hardly establish authority in front of the public for obvious reasons.

Some people might be concerned that the practice by the Nanjing Municipal Government will violate the rights of the officials. Actually, when a person decides to enter the civil service, he\she has already willingly given up part of his\her rights and become subject to supervision.

Practice not feasible

An article by Shi Jingtao in the Foshan Daily doubts the practice's feasibility and legitimacy.

Without supervision, how many officials who develop extramarital affairs for temporary enjoyment will report to their supervisors? As the measure does not cover such "private matters" which have not led to a change in marital status, does this mean there will be no intervention?

In cases when officials ask for a divorce, will the supervisory departments ignore the Marriage Law and interfere? If so, their actions have obviously violated the spirit of the Constitution and the Marriage Law.

In addition, officials are human beings and they, like ordinary people, are entitled to the freedom of divorce if their marriage has really hit the rocks, even without any extramarital affairs. Isn't it absurd that they should also report to their supervisors?

The author believes that everything should be subject to the laws and the practice has revealed the local government's lack of confidence in their own governance capability.

Public supervision

more effective

An article in the Qilu Evening News stresses the importance of public supervision to prevent corruption.

Admittedly, officials as citizens are also entitled to the right to privacy. However, they should be treated differently and part of their privacy is not protected by law.

Internal measures and mechanisms like the recent measure by the Nanjing Municipal Government have only limited effect in preventing corruption, while information accessibility to the public provides external supervision that covers the entire society. Officials should do more than just report changes in marital status and other private matters to their supervisors. They should also make public this information to ensure the public's right to information and supervision.